Patient positioning support structure

Abstract

A patient support system includes independently adjustable end columns supporting a centrally hinged, jointed or breaking patient support structure. At least one column includes a powered rotation assembly. The patient support includes at least two sections. A coordinated drive system provides for both upwardly and downwardly breaking or jointed orientations of the two sections in various inclined and tilted positions. Cable, cantilevered and pull-rod systems are included.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows:  
     
       1. An apparatus for supporting a patient above a floor during a medical procedure, the apparatus comprising:
 a) a base structure supported by the floor and including first and second end supports; 
 b) a patient support structure including:
 i) first and second sections with first and second outward ends that are respectively connected to the first and second end supports and at least one outward end is positioned below a roll mechanism for side-to-side tilting of the patient support structure with respect to the base structure; and 
 ii) the first and second sections having inward ends that are closely approximated and that are articulatable therebetween and that remain closely approximated when articulated; 
 
 c) the first end support having a first angulation drive mechanism connecting the first outward end to the base structure; and 
 d) the second end support having a second angulation drive mechanism connecting the second outward end to the base structure; and 
 e) wherein the first and second angulation drive mechanisms position respectively the first and second sections into a plurality of angular orientations with respect to each other at a single inward articulation. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein when the first and second sections articulate:
 a) the first and second angulation drive mechanisms are actively translated in a longitudinal direction with respect to the floor so as to be moved closer together. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first angulation drive mechanism and first end support cooperate with the roll mechanism to move the patient support structure. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the first and second section inward articulation is radiolucent, whereby imaging of the patient is unobstructed, the patient being positioned and supported on a first side and a second side of the articulation during the medical procedure. 
 
     
     
       5. An apparatus for supporting a patient above a floor during a medical procedure, the apparatus comprising:
 a) a base supported by the floor and including first and second end supports with rollers on the floor; 
 b) a patient support structure including:
 i) first and second outer ends that are respectively connected to the first and second end supports; and 
 ii) first and second sections that are articulatable therebetween; 
 
 c) a first angulation drive mechanism connecting the first end support with the first outer end; and 
 d) a second angulation drive mechanism connecting the second end support with the second outer end; wherein: 
 e) the first and second sections are positionable in an overlapping relationship. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 a) the base has a longitudinal length; and 
 b) the first and second end supports are inwardly movable in a longitudinal direction so as to move closer together and thereby reduce the length. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 a) the first and second angulation drive mechanisms have at least one pivot point that translates inwardly when the first and second sections articulate at a single inward articulation. 
 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for supporting a patient during a medical procedure, the apparatus comprising:
 a) a base having first and second end supports; 
 b) a patient support structure with:
 i) first and second outer ends that are respectively connected to the first and second end supports; and 
 ii) first and second sections that are articulatable therebetween at a single inward articulation; 
 
 c) a first angulation drive mechanism connecting the first end support with the first outer end; and 
 d) a second angulation drive mechanism connecting the second end support with the second outer end; wherein: 
 e) a horizontally translating mechanism cooperates to move the first and second angulation drive mechanisms closer together when the patient support structure first and second sections are angulated with respect to each other and their respective end supports. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 a) the horizontally translating mechanism is spaced above the floor and is joined with each of the base first and second end supports. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 a) the first angulation drive mechanism includes a first connection subassembly positioned between the first end support and the patient support structure first outer end; and 
 b) the second angulation drive mechanism includes a second connection subassembly positioned between the second end support and the patient support structure second outer end. 
 
     
     
       11. An apparatus for supporting a patient above a floor during a medical procedure, the apparatus comprising:
 a) a base structure supported by the floor and including first and second end supports; 
 b) a patient support structure including:
 i) first and second sections with first and second outward ends that are respectively connected to the first and second end supports; and 
 ii) the first and second sections having inward ends that are articulatable therebetween; 
 
 c) the first end support having a first angulation drive mechanism connecting the first outward end to the base structure; and 
 d) the second end support having a second angulation drive mechanism connecting the second outward end to the base structure; and 
 e) the patient support structure first and second outer ends and first and second angulation drive mechanisms are actively moved closer together by a motorized longitudinal translation mechanism and whereby the first and second angulation drive mechanisms position respectively the first and second sections in a plurality of angular orientations with respect to each other at a single inward articulation. 
 
     
     
       12. A table apparatus having a base and a patient support structure suspended above a floor by the base, the improvement comprising:
 a) the base includes spaced apart outer ends connected to outward ends of the patient support structure, the patient support structure configured to roll about a roll axis positioned above the connection for each outward end of the patient support structure with respect to the base; 
 b) the patient support structure includes a head section and a foot section, each with an inner portion, the head and foot inner portions being in close approximation and directly connected together at an inward articulation comprising a pair of spaced apart hinges. 
 
     
     
       13. The improvement of  claim 12 , wherein the hinges are made from a radiolucent material. 
     
     
       14. The improvement of  claim 12 , wherein the hinges are lockable. 
     
     
       15. The improvement of  claim 12 , wherein the hinges are positionable, so as to be at least one of below a longitudinal plane and above a longitudinal plane.